Curtain-fixture



No. 618,746. Patented Jan. 3|, I899. H. m. STEVENSON."

CURTAIN FIXTURE,

(Application flled Feb. 11, 1898.)

2 Sheets-$heet I.

(No Model.)

3 W 1% WPLWN/ ll... M v F/ J .m Q 1 \M w r \G n 8 V l M W1! qwwhz WWWWWW

m: nonms vnzns co morn-umcnwxsummw o L No. 6|8,746. Patented Ian.31,189.91

u. m. STEVENSON.

cuRT 'm FIXTURE.

(Application filed Feb. 11, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UM 1mm- Hen/1y M s fevewsam.

"ma Noam: versus :0, mom-mo. wnmnmun. n. c.

UNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. STEVENSON, OF BARNET, VERMONT.

CURTAIN- FIXTU RE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters l atent No. 618,746, dated January31, 1899.

Application filed February 11, 1898- Serial No. 66 9,967. (No model.)

T at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M STEVENSON, a

\ citizen of the United States, residing at West Barnet, in the countyof Caledonia and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Curtain-Fixtures; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

The object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism for mountingand operating a window-shade, by means of which the light may beadmitted through the upper or lower parts of the window, or both, or maybe shut off entirely.

The invention consists'in the provision of two rollers,one mounted onthewindow-frame and the other suspended therefrom, the shade beingattached to the lower of said rollers, and a friction-clutch looselymounted upon the ends of the shade-roller provided with a stop adaptedto engage the suspending means to prevent the unwinding of the shade.

The invention also consists in other details of construction,combinations of parts, and arrangements of instrumentalities, which willbe hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a frontelevation illustrative of my invention, showing the shade in suchposition that light may be admitted through the upper and lower parts ofthe window. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 00 w of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a detail view of -one end of the shade-roller, showing thesuspending-tape attached thereto. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the samewith the frictionclutch applied. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view ofthe friction-clutch in its closed position. Fig. 6 is a similar View ofthe same in its open position. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of one end ofthe shade-roller, showing a modified form of the invention. Fig. 8 is aview at right angles thereto, looking at the opposite end of the rollerfrom that which is shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the hookor stirrup employed in the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

eye or loop 8 in its outer end, through which an operating-cord 9passes, the lower free end of said cord being provided with atassel orother ornamental handle and the upper end thereof being secured to andadapted to be wound upon the roller 3. The object of the curved rod orlever 7, with the loop 8 in the end of it, is to enable the pawl 6 to bereleased from the ratchet-wheel 5 by drawing outwardly upon theoperating-cord 9.

Secured to the roller 3, between the flanges 4 4, are suspending tapesor bands 10 10, the lower ends of said bands being secured to theshade-roller 11, carrying the shade 12, which is secured to and adaptedto be wound thereon. The opposite ends of the roller 11 are reduced, asshown, and are provided with guide-flanges 13 13, between which thetapes '10 pass.

In connection with the foregoing parts I employ what I term afriction-clutch 14, the same being illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 and6 of the drawings and shown applied in the other figures thereof. One ofthese clutches is used at each end of the shade-roller 11 and consistsof two semicircular sections hinged one to the other, as shown at 15,provided with inwardly-extending flanges 16 at their opposite ends andprovided with hooks 17, by means of which the free ends thereof may belocked together. Adjacent to the free ends of said sections one (orboth) of the same is formed with a slot or opening 18, adjacent to whichis an antifriction-roller 19. One of the sections of said clutch isfurther provided at a point intermediate of the ends thereof with a loop20, to which is attached a ball or weight 21. .As above stated, one ofsaid clutches, is applied to each end of the roller 11, the sameembracing the flanges 13 13 on said roller, with the side flanges 16uponsaid I oo clutch fitting down upon each side of the flanges 13 13.The inner diameter of said clutch when the parts thereof are in theirclosed position is slightly greater than the diameter of the flanges 13,so that free movement of said clutch upon said flanges may be permitted.

\Vhen applied as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the tape 10 passesloosely through the slot or opening 18 in the clutch 14, the lower endof said tape being permanently secured to the roller 11. The weight 21forces the clutch 14 around, so that one edge of the slot 18 and theroller 19 bear against the tape 10 and act as a stop to preventtheunwinding of the tapes 10 or of the shade 12, attached to the roller 11.

The operation of my device is as follows: \Vhen itis desired tohave thelight admitted through the upper part of the window, the operating-cord9 is grasped and drawn forwardly, releasing the pawl or dog (3 from itsengagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 5. The roller 11, carryingthe shade 12, is then free to fall by gravity, unwinding the tapes 10from the roller 3. When the shade has been lowered to the desiredextent, the pressure upon the operating-cord 9 is released and the pawlor dog 6 is allowed to return by gravity to its normal position inengagement with the ratchet-wheel 5. If it be desired to have the upperend of the window closed and the lower end open, a reverse operation tothat just described will be performedthat is to say, instead ofpermitting the operating-cord to play out and wind upon the roller 3 thesame is drawn downwardly, winding the tapes 10 upon said roller. If itbe desired to out off the entrance of light from any part of the window,theshade is drawn downwardly, unwinding it from the roller 11. In doingthis, however, said roller 11 is turned in such direction against thepressure exerted by the weight 21 as to wind the tapes 10 upon saidroller and raise the same to its topmost position. When the pressureupon the shade 12 is released, the weight 21 returns the friction-clutch14: to its normal position, with the stopthereon in frictional contactwith the tapes 10, and prevents the further movement or unwinding ofsaid tapes or of the shade 12. the roller 11 by drawing outwardly anddownwardly upon the operating-cord 9. This action raises the roller 11and the shade carried thereby until it is brought into contact with theupper roller 3,when further upward move-' ment of the roller 11 isprevented. The continued downward and outward movement of the cord 9will cause the tapes 10 to unwind from the roller 11, and thereby rotatesaid roller in such direction as to wind the shade 12 thereon.

In Figs. 7, S, and 9 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified formof my invention which it may be desirable to use under certaincircumstances. The same diifers from The shade may be wound upon theform heretofore described in that there is provided upon the lower endof the tape 10 a hook or stirrup 22, which embraces aheaded pin orbolt-23 upon the end of the roller 11. The tape in this instance, itwill be seen, is not attached directly to the roller 11, but isconnected thereto so that rotation of said roller will be permittedwithout winding or unwinding the tape 10 thereon. The clutch 14:, of thesame general construction as the clutch 14, has the pivot-pin 24,through which the two sections thereof are connected together,extendedoutwardly,so that it is adapted to engage the rear side of the stirrup22, the said-extension 24 serving as a stop to prevent the accidentalrotation of the roller. The said clutch 14 is so disposed upon theroller 11 that the hinge between the two sections lies uppermost, andthe slot 18 lies beneath the horizontal center thereof. Passing throughthe slot 18 and adapted to be wound upon the roller 11 is a tape 25,carrying a weight 26 upon its lower end. The operation of this form ofmy invention is as follows, it being understood that the tapes 10 areraised and lowered upon the roller 3 in the manner heretofore described:Then it is desired to lower the shade 12, so that the lower portion ofthe window will be completely closed, said shade is grasped in the usualmanner and drawn downwardly, this action winding the tape 25 upon theroller 11. When released, the weight 26 upon the lower end of the tape25 will force the friction-clutch into the position shown in Fig. 8 ofthe drawings, with the stop 24, formed by the extension of the pivot-pinby which the two sections of the clutch are hinged together, in contactwith the rearedge of the stirrup 22. Further rotation of the clutch 14is thereby prevented and the outward or downward movement of the tape 25effectually cut off. To raise the shade 12, however, it is merelynecessary to draw upon the tape 25 in a substantially horizontaldirection, which action will turn the roller 11 so as to wind the shade12 thereon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A shade-roller, suspending means therefor, and an unbalancedfriction-clutch adapt ed to engage the suspending means.

2. A shade-roller, suspending means therefor, and aneccentrically-weighted frictionclutch adapted to engage the suspendingmeans.

3. A shade-roller, suspending means there for attached thereto, andadapted to be wound thereon, a clutch loosely mounted 011 said roller, astop on said clutch, and a weight for holding said stop in engagementwith the suspending means.

4. A shade-roller, suspending means therefor attached thereto, andadapted to be wound thereon, a clutch loosely mounted on said roller andprovided with a slot through which said tape passes, a stop on saidclutch, and a IIO weight for holding said stop in engagement with thesuspending means.

5. The combination of a shade-roller, a pair of flexible supportstherefor adapted to be wound thereon, friction clutches loosely mountedon said roller and provided with slots through which said flexiblesupports pass, and a weight secured to one side of each of saidclutches, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of a shade-roller,a flexible support therefor adaptedto be wound thereon, a friction-clutch loosely mounted upon said roller,the same comprising a' pair of pivoted sections adapted to be lockedtogether and having an opening through which said flexible supportpasses, an antifrictional roller adjacent to said opening, and a weightsecured to one of said sections intermediate of the ends thereof, as andfor the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of a shade-roller, a pair of flexible supportsattached to the ends thereof and adapted to be wound thereon,frictionclutches loosely mounted upon the ends of said roller, eachcomprising a pair of hinged sections adapted to be locked together,having an opening through which one of said flexible supports passes,and provided with side flanges which inclose the'end of said roller, anda weight secured to one of said sections at a point intermediate of theends thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination with a main roller mounted to turn in stationarybrackets, of a supplemental roller carrying a shade, and

tapes connecting said main and supplemental rollers, and wound upon thelatter in opposition to said shade, whereby, when the shade is unwound,said tapes will be wound upon said supplemental roller, as and for thepurpose set forth.

9. The combination with a main roller mounted to turn in stationarybrackets, of a supplemental roller, a shade attached to saidsupplemental roller and adapted to be wound thereon, supporting-tapesfor the supplemental roller secured at their upper ends to the mainroller and at their lower ends to the supplemental roller, and adaptedto be wound on said supplemental roller in a reverse direction to thatof the shade, and friction-clutches on said supplemental roller forpreventing the accidental unwinding of said shade or said tapes, as andfor the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of two rollers, one sus pended from the other byflexible bands or tapes adapted to be wound upon each, means foroperating the upper of said rollers, ashade secured to the lower of saidrollers and adapted to be wound thereon in a direction opposite to thatof the tapes, friction-clutches loosely mounted upon the ends of thelower of said rollers provided with openings through which said tapespass, and weights on said clutches, as and for the purpose set forth. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY M. STEVENSON.

Witnesses:

JoHN A. GIBSON, THOMAS STEVENSON.

